Valve



Sept. 20, 1938. s. E. ALLEN VALVE Filed Malfch 4, 1935 Fig. 4:

Z 46 If 72 w 75 66 n J n jg I INVENTOR dcorr ALLEN BY ATTORNEY PatentedSept. 20, 1938 UNITED STATES VALVE Scott E. Allen,

G-O-Two Fire Glen Ridga'N. J., assignor to Equipment Company, Newark,

N. J., a corporation of Delaware 7 Application March i, 1935, Serial No.9,146

1'7 Claims.

The present invention relates to discharge mechanism for containersholding fluid under pressure, such, for example, as liquefied carbondioxide, and the invention has for an object to provide novel meansoperable either manually or by fluid pressure or by manual means incombination with fluid pressure, from the container.

The discharge ports of containers holding fluid under pressure areusually closed by a sealing disk which must be ruptured or out'open torelease the fluid. When the disk is cut by a manual operation itsometimes happens that the operation is arrested before the disk hasbeen fully cut and my invention provides means whereby a partial openingin the disk will be automatically completed by means operated by thefluid released through said partial opening. The present invention is,therefore, a modification of that disclosed in copending applicationSerial No.

349,150, filed March 22, 1929, and differs therefrom in being applicableto a container having a lateral outlet instead of the usual verticaloutlet closed by the sealing disk. 3 As in the discharge head describedin said copending application the present discharge head is alsooperable by fluid pressure from an outside source. For instance, abattery of fluid containers may be connected to a single delivery lineand the discharge of fluid into said line from any one of the containerswill cause discharge of fluid from the rest of the containers. Myinvention provides further for preventing escape of fluid through adischarge head when it is uncoupled from a cylinder. Thus, at any time,any cylinder of a battery may be disconnected for test purposes withoutinterfering with eifective operation of the rest of the battery.

A further object of the invention is to provide a novel formof cutterfor cutting a flap out of the sealing disk.

Other objects and advantages of my invention will appear in thefollowing description of a preferred embodiment thereof and amodification of the same and thereafter the novelty and scope of theinvention will be pointed out in the claims.

In the accompanying drawing;

Figure 1 is a view in vertical section of my improved discharge head;

Fig. 2 is a simila view of another form of my invention;

Fig. 3 is a fragmental view of a portion of Fig. 2 showing the cutter inactuated position; and

Fig. 4 is a view of the sealing disk and cutter 66. at the end of thecutting stroke and at the instant to release the fluid before the flapis bent into the cutter by the pres-- sure of the discharging fluid, thedisk being viewed in the direction of the arrow 4 in Fig. 3.

In Fig. 1 a cylinder for liquefied carbon dioxide or other. highlycompressed fluid is shown fragmentally at Ill. An outlet fitting H isthreaded into the neck of the cylinder and carries a siphon tube i2extending into the cylinder in the usual manner. The fitting II has acentral bore l3 which at its upper end is enlarged to form a seat for ascrew plug M which carries a gasket l5 so as to insure a gas tight sealof said bore. The plug I4 is formed with an upwardly extending shank l6terminating in a squared end l1 which projects from the top of thefitting H. To insure 1 against any possible leakage of fluid a suitablepacking I8 is provided about the shank IS. A cap I9 is screwed over theend of the fitting II to cover the projecting squared end ll of theshank and a gasket 20 is provided between thecap 20 and the casing.

As a means of filling the cylinder a suitable fllling port 22 isprovided in one side of fltting ll above the seat for the plug it. Thisport is normally closed by cap 23 and gasket 24.

Extending laterally from the central below the plug is a safety port 25which is normally closed by a safety disk 26 held in place by a portedscrew plug 21. The safety disk is arranged to rupture at a predeterminedpressure 30 so as to prevent the building up of excessive pressures incylinder l0.

Another lateral port 30 below the plug I4 is normally closed by asealing disk 3| which is clamped against a seat formed by an enlarge- 35ment 32 of the port 30. The disk 3l has a higher rupture point than thatof disk 26. A sleeve or tubular screw plug 33 is threaded into theenlargement 32 and clamps the disk 3i against its seat. The enlargement32 extends through a 40 lateral projection 34 of the fitting II. Acutter casing 36 is removably secured to this projecting portion 34 by acoupling nut 31 having right arid left hand threaded engagement withsaid casing and projecting portion.

The casing 36 which extends substantially perpendicularly to thelongitudinal axis of the fltting II, has an axial bore formed with anenlargement to provide a discharge chamber 38. At theouter end of thecasing 36 the bore is 5 further enlarged to form a working chamber 40for a piston 4|. This piston is fixed upon the solid shank 42 of atubular cutter 3. This cutter at its inner end, that is the end towardthe sealing disk 3| is stepped to provide a cutting edge bore i3 44 anda recessed part 45, each extending through an angle of about 180degrees. This cutting edge coincides with the inner periphery of thetubular cutter 43. A set of ports 46 provides communication between thebore of cutter 43 and the chamber 38.

Leading outwardly from the chamber 38 is a discharge port 41 which,however, is constricted at its point of communication with the chamber38 to provide a seat for a ball check valve 48. A ported disk 50 servesto limit outward movement of the ball 48. This ball normally occupiesthe closed position shown in Fig. 1 due to its weight. Obviously,however, if the port 41 were not upwardly directed from the chamber 38 aspring could be introduced between the member 50 and the ball 48 to holdthe latter normally in closed position. The discharge port is usuallyconnected to a delivery line 5|, and cylinder l6 may be but one of abattery of cylinders similarly connected to the same line.

A duct 52 is formed in the casing 36, leading from the port 41 justbelow the member 50 to the working chamber 40 at the outer side of thepiston 4|. This working chamber is closed at its outer end by a head 54which is formed with a tubular extension 55 through which passes aspindle 56. This spindle is formed with threads 51 which engage withcorresponding threads in the head 54 and extension 55. The inner end ofthe spindle is provided with a socket 58 of squared cross-section whichis adapted to receive the squared end 60 of the cutter shank 42. Fixedupon the outer end of spindle 56 is handle 6|. The shank 42 has ashoulder 62 which bears against the end of the spindle 56. A suitablepacking 64 separates chamber 38 from chamber 40 and a spring 65 normallyholds the parts in the position shown in Fig. 1 with the shoulder 62bearing against the end of the spindle 56. A vent 66 is provided at theinner end of the working chamber 46.

In operation, when it is desired to release fluid from the cylinder "Ithe handle 6| is rotated in.

such direction as to feed the spindle 55 inwardly or toward the left, asshown in Fig. 1. This results in advancing the cutter 44 with ahelicalmotion. The cutting edge 44 cuts through the sealing disk 3|,cutting out a flap therefrom which is not a complete circle becausebefore or by the time the blunt shoulder 45 engages the disk, theadvance of the cutter will be checked by engagement of the piston 4|with the'inner end wall of the working chamber 40. On the uncut portionintegrally. connecting the flap to the main body of the disk 3| the flapwill hinge as it is forced out by the fluid in the cylinder l andpressed back against the inner periphery of the cutter 43. The fluidthen escapes through the tubular cutter and out of the ports 46 into thedischarge chamber 38 and thence past the check valve 48 into thedelivery line 5|. If, for any reason, the

handle 6| is not operated sufliciently to make a eration or completingthe opening where the manual operation is arrested prematurely.

The cutting edge 44 extends through an angle of at least 180 degrees andthe cutter being initially turned by the manual operation of handle 6|and then forced bodily forward by the fluid being completely detachedfrom the body of the disk 3|. It is essential to make a cut with aminimum extent of substantially 180 degrees because the metal from whichsealing disks is made is usually rolled and has a deflnite grain in thedirection of rolling. The metal under pressure tends to split in thedirection of this grain and if a.cut of less than 180 degrees were madeand this out extended across the grain it would be apt to split off apiece of the disk and carry it forward into the tubular cutter where itwould be likely to jam the openings 46. Such splitting might also resultin an incomplete opening of the sealing disk.

It will be evident that the cutter can be operated by admission of fluidunder pressure through the port 41 without operation of the handle 6|.For instance, any cylinder connected to the delivery line 5| ifdischarged will build up sufllcient pressure in the delivery line toforce the piston 4| inwardly, particularly since the working chamber atthe inner side of the piston is ported.

The particular object of the check valve 48 is to permit of uncouplingthe cylinder from a battery of cylinders by unscrewing the nut 31without in any way crippling the operation of the rest of the cylinders.If, for instance, when the cylinder Ill was disconnected, a fire shouldoccur, the other cylinder could be dicharged into the delivery line andthe only result of admission of fluid pressure "to the port 41 would beto depress the piston 4|.

There could be no escape of the fluid because of the valve 48 whichprevents inflow toward the open end of the cutter 43.

The structures shown in Figs. 2, 3 and 4 differs from that shown in Fig.1 particularly in the form of the cutter and in the location of thecheck valve, consequently parts which are substantially identical withthose in Fig. 1 are given the same reference numerals, and correspondingparts that differ somewhat from those in Fig. 1, are designatedby'corresponding reference numerals bearing the sufflx a.

The cutter casing 36a is secured to the fitting by means of the couplingnut 31. This cutter casing 36a difiers from the casing 36 in having adischarge port 41a in constantly open communication with the dischargechamber 38, and in having no duct formed therein to connect the port 41with the outer end of the working chamber 46.

The cutter 43a differs from the cutter 43 in a number of particulars. Inthe hollow portion of the cutter there is an annular depression 10 whichprovides a seat for a ball check valve 1|, the latter being normallypressed against its seat by a light spring 12. A duct 13 is formed inthe solid shank 42a and provides communication between the tubularportion of the cutter and the working chamber 46 at the outer end of thepiston 4|. The bore 13.1ifls slots 14 milled therein .and the ball check1| is of smaller diameter than that of the tubular part of the cutter43a, so that when the ball 1| is forced back by fluid from the cylina180 degrees but less than 270 degrees.

lines 11 but it will not be der III (as shown in Fig. 3) it cannotcompletely out ofi communication with the duct 13.

The cutter 43a also differs from the cutter 43 in thefact that it is notrotated when forced into engagement with the disk 3| by operation of thehandle 6|. The spindle 560. has a cylindrical socket 58a and receives acylindrical pin 60a formed at the end of the shank 420, so that thespindle may be turned without rotating the cutter 43a. The spring 65presses the end of the part 60a against a shoulder 15 formed in thebottom of the socket 58a. This spaces the inner end of the spindle fromthe outlet end of port 13 so that at no time is said port closed.

The cutting end of the cutter 43a instead 'of being stepped, has anendless arcuate cutting edge which is disposed in a plane inclined fromnormal to the longitudinal axis of the cutter. This cutting edge isformed by cutting the end of the tubular cutter at a slant and thensharpening the end of the cutter toward the inner periphery of thecutter.

In operation, when the cutter is fed inwardly by operating the handle6|, said cutter may r0- tate, initiallyfdue to frictional engagementwith the spindle 56a, but once it has engaged the sealing disk 3| it'will be held by such engagement against rotation and will then beadvanced without rotation. The parts are preferably so arranged thatpenetration of the disk 3| will be arrested by engagement of the piston4| with the bottom wall of the working chamber 40 when a out has beenmade in the disk of more than Fig. 4 shows the position of the cutterand disk at the instant of extreme penetration'of the cutter and justbefore the flap 16 has been bent outwardly by pressure of fluid from thecylinder ill. As this flap is forced outwardly it tears along the tornoff because before this can happen it will be folded back into thecutter in the position shown in Fig. 4 and-further tearing will bearrested.

It will be observed in that depicted in Fig. 1, that there is aselfenergizing action which tends to assist or complete the manualcutting operation since fluid escaping from the punctured disk 3| willforce back the check valve 1| and a certain part of it will enter theduct 13 by way of the slots 14 making its way to the outer end of thepiston 4| and exerting sufficient pressure to completely depress saidpiston. Whenever fluid under pressure is admitted from some othercylinder through the port 41a into the chamber 38 it enters the cutter43a through the ports 46 on the outer side of the bail check valve IIand then flows through duct 13 into the -working chamber to efiectoperation of the cutter. Should the coupling 31 be unscrewed and thecylinder Ill be removed for test, refilling or any other. purpose, therest of the battery of cylinders connected to the delivery line 5| maybedischarged into the line without any danger of loss of fluid through theuncoupled parts because the check valve 1| prevents flow from port ofthe cutter 43a. The only result of such admission of fluid underpressure to the discharge chamber. 38 will be to cause the piston 4| tomove toward the left, as viewed in Fig. 2, until the piston seatsagainst the bottom wall of the working chamber 40.

. While I have described ment of my invention and 'a modificationthereof it will be understood that my invention is not thisconstruction, as in outer side of the piston,

punch.

41a to the cutting end a preferred embodilimited to the particularconstructions illustrated and that I reserve the right to make variouschangesin form, construction and arrangement of parts which fall withinthe spirit and scope of the following claims.

I claim:

1. A releasing device for a container holding fluid under pressure andhaving an outlet normally closed by a penetrable closure element, whichdevice comprises a hollow body member detachably secured to thecontainer, a piston reciprocable in the body "member, a discharge portin the body member between said piston and said outlet, a punch memberoperable by the piston to penetrate the closure element, the punchbeing' tubular and having a lateral opening therein between thepuncturing end thereof and said piston to convey fluid from said outletto said port, one of said members being also formed with a by-passproviding constantly open communication between said port and the outerside of said piston to admit fluid under pressure to operate the piston,a check valve preventing inflow of fluid through said port to thecutting end of the punch, said check valve being located between thepenetrable closure element and the point of communication of the by-passwith the discharge port, and manual means for operating the punch topenetrate the closure element.

2. A releasing device for a container holding fluid under pressure andhaving an outlet normally closed by a penetrable closure element, whichdevice comprises a hollow body detachably secured to the container andformed with a cylinder chamber and with a discharge port between saidchamber and said outlet, a closure for the outer end of the chamber, apiston reciprocable in the chamber, a punch adapted to be operated bythe piston to puncture said element, the punch being tubular and havinga lateral opening therein to convey fluid from, said outlet to saidport, the body being also formed with a passage providing opencommunication at all times from the port to said chamber at the a checkvalve in said port preventing inflow from the port to the puncturing endof the punch, said check valve being located between the penetrableclosure element and the point of communication of the by-pass with thedischarge port, and. manual means for operating the piston to advancethe 3. A releasing device for a container holding fluid under pressureand having an-outlet normally closed by a penetrable sealing element,which device comprises a hollow body detachably secured to the containerand formed with a cylinder chamber and with a discharge port betweensaid chamber and said outlet, a closure for the outer end of thechamber, a piston reciprocable in the chamber, a punch secured to thepiston and adapted to be advanced therebyto puncture said sealingelement, the punch being tubular and having a lateral opening therein toconvey fluid from said outlet to said port, the punch being also formedwith a passage providing communication from said opening to the outerside of the piston, a check valve closing toward the puncturing end ofthe punch and located in the punch between said puncturing end and saidopening, and manual means for operating the punch.

'4. A releasing device for a container holding fluid'under pressure andhaving an outlet and a sealing disk closing the outlet, which devicecomprises a body-formed with a bore and constructed and arranged to bedetachably secured to the container, a tubular cutter fitted in the boreand movable therein to penetrate the disk, said bore having anenlargement at the outer end thereof to form a working chamber, aclosure for the outer end of the working chamber, a

piston fixed to the cutter and having a working fit in said'chamber, thebore having another enlargement through which the cutter extends forminga discharge chamber, a packing around the cutter separating saidchambers, a discharge port leading from the discharge chamber, thecutter being formed with lateral ports opening into the dischargechamber, a duct providing communication at all times between thedischarge port and the working chamber at the outer side of the piston,a check valve preventing inflow of fluid from the discharge port to thecutting end of the cutter, said check valve being located between thesealingdisk and the point of communication of said duct with thedischarge port, and manual means for advancing the cutter to penetratethe closure member.

5. A releasing'dev'ice for a container holding fluid under pressure andhaving an outlet and a sealing disk closing the outlet, which devicecomprises a body formed with a bore constructed and arranged to bedetachably secured to the container, a tubular cutter fitted in the boreand movable therein to penetrate the disk, said bore having anenlargement at the outer end thereof to form a working chamber, aclosure for the outer end of the chamber, a piston fixed to the cutterand having a working fit in said chamber, the bore having anotherenlargement through which the cutter extends forming a dischargechamber, a packing around the cutter separating said chambers, adischarge port leading from the discharge chamber, the cutter beingformed with ports opening into the discharge chamber, the body beingprovided with a passage providing communication at all times between thedischarge port and the outer end of the working chamber, a check valvepreventing inflow of fluid from the discharge port to the cutting end ofthe cutter, said check valve being located between the sealing disk andthe point of communication ofthe passage with the discharge port, andmanual means for advancing the cutter to penetrate the closure member,

6. A releasing device for a container holding fluid under pressure andhaving an outlet and a sealing disk closing the outlet, which devicecom-' prises a body formed with a bore constructed and arranged to bedetachably secured to the container, a tubular cutter fitted in the boreand movable therein to penetrate said sealing disk, said bore having anenlargement at the outer end thereof toform aworking chamber, a closurefor the outer end of said chamber, a piston fixed to the cutter andhaving aworking flt in said chamber,'the bore having another enlargementthrough which the cutter extends forming a discharge chamber, a packingaround the cutter separating said chambers, a discharge port leadingfrom the discharge chamber, the cutter being formed with ports openinglaterally into the discharge chamber, the cutter being also providedwith a passage extending through the piston and providing communicationbetweenthe outlet and the outer side of the piston, a check valve in thetubular, cutter preventing inflow of fluid from said discharge port tothe cut ting end of the cutter, and manual means for ing disk normallyclosing the outlet, a hollow discharge member detachably secured to thefitting" over said outlet, said member having a discharge port and beingformed witha cylinder chamber closed at its outer end, a pistonreciprocable in said chamber, a spindle threaded through said closed endand abutting the piston, means for turning the spindle to depress thepiston, a punch member secured to the piston and movable thereby topenetrate the disk, the punch being tubular and having lateral openingstherein to convey fluid from said outlet to said discharge port, oneofthe members being also formed with a by-pass providing communicationbetween said port and the outer side of said piston, and a check valvepreventing inflow of fluid through said port to the cutting end of thepunch but permitting such inflow into said by-pass, said check valvebeing located between tion or the lay-pass with the discharge port.

8. A releasing device for use in connection,

- with a fluid container having an opening and a closure for theopening, said device comprising a body forming a chamber, an operatingmemher in said chamber, means whereby said operating member may beactuated, a puncturing member associated with said operating member,said puncturing member being operable by said operating member topuncture said closure, a main discharge port in the body located betweensaid closure and said chamber, means for conveying the released fluid tosaid port and a part of the fluid to said chamber so that the pressurethereof may be utilized to assist in the actuation of said operatingmember, means for relieving pressure opposing the actuation of saidoperating member, and a check valve for preventing said fluid fromreaching said chamber until the pressure thereof exceeds the pressure insaid chamber.

9. A releasing device for use in connection with a fluid containerhaving an opening and a closure for the opening, said device comprisinga body forming a chamber, an operating member in the form of a piston insaid chamber, means whereby 'said operating member may be actuated, apuncturing member associated with said operating ,member, saidpuncturing member being operable by said operating inemberto puncturesaid closure, a main discharge port, there being an opening in saidpuncturing member for receiving released fluid and passing it to saidport and a passage in the body for leading part of the fluid to thechamber to assist in actuating said operating member.

10. A device for opening a fluid container including, an opening member,fluid pressure actuated means for operating the opening member, aconnection between the container and said means fluid under pressure andhaving an outlet normally closed by a penetrable closure element, whichdevice comprises a hollow body detachably secured to the container andformed with a piston chamber and a discharge chamber, the latter chamberhaving a discharge port, a piston reciprocable in the piston chamber, apunch passing through the piston and secured thereto and also passingthrough the discharge chamber and being operable by the piston topenetrate said closure member, said punch being tubular and being formedwith an outlet to the piston chamber at the outer face of said pistonand with an outlet to the discharge chamber, packing means surroundingthe punch and preventing leakage of fluid from the discharge chamberinto the piston chamber at the inner side of the piston, the punch beingformed interiorly with opposed valve seats disposed respectively atopposite sides of the latter outlet, a valve within the punch, springmeans normally holding the valve against the inner seat to preventreverse flow of fluid ircm the discharge chamber to the cutting end ofthe punch but yieldable to fluid pressure from'the container when theclosure element is punctured, the outer valve seat being channeled. topermit the fluid from the container to by-pass the valve when the latteris seated on said outer seat, and manual means for depressing the pistonto puncture the closure member.

12. A releasing device for a container holding fluid under pressure andhaving an outlet normally closed by a penetrable closure element, whichdevice comprises a hollow body member detachably secured to thecontainer, a piston reciprocable in the body member, a discharge portinthe body member between said piston and said outlet, a punch memberoperable by the piston to penetrate the closure element, the punch beingtubular and having a lateral opening therein between the puncturing endthereof and saidpiston to convey fluid from said outlet to said port,one of said members being also formed with a bypass providing constantlyopen communication between said port and the outer side of said pistonto admit fluid under pressure to operate the piston, and a check valvepreventing inflow of fluid through said port to the cutting end'of thepunch, said check valve being located between the end closure elementand the point of communication of the by-pass with the discharge port. I

13. A releasing device for a container holding fluid under pressure andhaving an outlet normally closed by a penetrable closure element whichdevice comprises a hollow body detachably secured to the container andformed with a cylinin to convey fluid from said outlet to said port,

the body being also formed with a passage providing open communicationat all times from the port to said chamber at the outer side 01 thepiston, and a check valve in said port preventing inflow from the portto the puncturing end of the punch, said check valve being locatedbetween said element and the point of communication of the passage withthe discharge port.

14. A releasing device for a container holding fluid under pressure andhaving an outlet normally closed by a. penetrable sealing element, whichdevice comprises a hollow body detachably secured to the container andformed with a a check valve closing toward the puncturing end of thepunch and located in the punch between said puncturing end and saidopening;

15. A releasing head for a fluid container, provided with a pressurechamber at one end, pressure operated means in said chamber,-a releasingelement operated by said means and reciprocable through the other end ofsaid head, said head being also provided with a discharge outlet andwith a discharge chamber in communication with a bore in the free end ofsaid element, with said discharge outlet and with said pressure chamber,and a valve between said discharge chamber and said bore in thereleasing element seating in a direction to prevent flow of fluid fromthe former through the latter.

16. A releasing head for a fluid container,.

munication with a bore in the free end of said 7 element, with saiddischarge outlet and with said pressure chamber through a bore in saidhead between said discharge outlet and said pressure chamber, 'and avalve between said discharge outlet and discharge chamber seating in adirection to prevent flow of fluid the latter.'

17. A releasing head for a fluid container, provided with a pressurechamber at one end, pressure operated means in said chamber, a releasingelement operated by said means and reciprocable through the other end ofsaid head, said head being also provided with a discharge outlet andwith a dischargechamber in communication with a bore in the free end ofsaid element, with said discharge outlet and with said pressure chamberthrough a bore in said'element, and a valve between said dischargechamber and first mentioned bore in said element seating in a directionto prevent flow of fluid from the former through the latter.

from the former to

